Support for tube frames in axminster looms



April 9,1935.' E. J. DACEY 7 1,997,046

SUPPORT FOR TUBE FRAMES IN AXMINSTER LOOMS V Filed Nov. 1, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 0/ 6?. V 7o I v g o as w wig/" kwy A ril 9, 1935. E. J. DACEY 1,997,045

SUPPORT FOR TUBE FRAMES IN AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed Nov. 1, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Apr. 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT FOR TUBE FRAMES 1N AXMINSTER LOOMS Application November 1, 1933, Serial No. 696,261

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tube frame supports for Axminster looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide means to support the tube frame during the wiping-in operation.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 623,583 I have shown a brace for a tube frame used in the weaving of a fabric wherein the pattern appears on the back. That application shows a plurality of guide plates to define guide aisles with the reed dents, and the yarn tubes of the tube frame are moved between the guide plates with a resultant frictional tendency to bow the tube frame rearwardly. The brace in that application moves against the tube frame while the latter is in an inclined position, the force being directed substantially horizontal. The clutches which hold the tube frame during the wiping-in operation are in an inclined position at the time the tubeframe is pushed forwardly by the brace, and there is a tendency for the brace to move the tube frame out of the clutches.

It is an important object of my present invention to provide means for'keeping the tube frame seated in the clutch while the brace is in operation. In certain types of Axminster looms the tube frame is moved down by a spring acting in addition to gravity and I find that a force sufiicient to bracethe tube frame will not lift the transferrer arms, and the latter effectively hold the clutches against upward movement.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide an actuating roll or the like to assist in the proper motion of the brace or support for the tube frame. During the wiping-in operation the tube frame is raised from a low inclined position to one that is higher and substantially erect and the brace should remain in contact with the tube frame as the latter rises. As shown herein I provide a fixed guide, as a roll, to engage part of the brace actuator connections to require the brace to move up with the tube frame.

While I have shown the invention as usable more particularly with the type of spacing plates set forth in co-pending application Serial No. 575,190, yet I do not Wish to be limited to plates of this type, inasmuch as any form of guides for tuft yarns in addition to the binder and stuffer warps will increase the frictional resistance offered to the yarn tubes and therefore tend to bow the tube frame rearwardly, and the structure set forth hereinafter is usable to prevent the bowing, whatever the cause.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation, parts being in section of the upper part of an Axminster loom having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the tube frame, bracket and clutch, together with the connections for temporarily holding these parts together,

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views showing successive positions through which the tube frame and the brace pass during the wiping-in operation,

Figs. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views similar to a portion of Fig. 1 showing the tube frame brace and operating mechanism therefor in different positions,

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View showing the relation between the yarn tubes and the guide plates,

Fig. 9 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 6, and

Fig. 10 is a plan View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the loom frame 20 has a bottom shaft 2| having a cam plate 22 secured thereto. A pullover shaft 23 has a sprocket 24 by means of which the transporting chain 25 is given progressive steps to present thetube frames one at a time to delivery position.

Each tube frame 26, an end of one of which is shown in Fig. 2, comprises a bar 21 which may be tubular and have secured thereto an upstanding chain engaging arm 28 and a spool supporting arm 29. The spool 30 carries the usual yarn supply, the separate yarns being moved down through the yarn tubes 3|. In the present instance the attaching hook 32 may be rigid and have an upper end to overhang the chain 25.

Normally the hook is held yieldingly in supporting position by a spring 33 surrounding a tongue 34 which moves with the hook, and at the time of transfer the clutches, one of which is shown at 35 in Fig. 2, move inwardly so that an unlatching lug 36 passes through a slot 31 in the arm 28 and into engagement with the hook. Further movement of the clutch'toward the center of the tube frame will cause sliding of the hook to the position shown in Fig. 2, after which the clutches may descend in the usual manner. The arm 28 has-a solid portion 38 lying under the lug 36, but for the purpose of the present invention it is suflicient if the clutch and tube 55 frame have coacting parts one of which can engage the other to prevent movement of the frame away from the clutch during the Wiping-in operation. The tube frame illustrated in Fig. 2 may be similar to that shown in patent to Payne No. 1,807,748.

Each clutch has a pivotal support at with an arm 4| pivoted about an axis 42 carried by a supporting frame 43. The position of the latter is determined by a rod 44 connected to a lever 45 Which is held down by spring 46 against cam 41. The clutches are moved about their pivotal supports by means of a rod 48 having pivotal connecion with the clutch as shown at 39 in Fig. 2. The rod 48 is attached to a bell crank lever 50 and receives motion from an operating rod 5| actuated in the usual manner.

The loom frame supports an arch 60 from the rear of which extends a stand 6i supporting a fixed stud 62. An actuating lever 63 is pivoted about this stud and is moved by a rod 6 connectedto a lever 65. The position of the latter is limited by a stop screw 60 and the lower end of lever 65 preferably carries a roll 61 for engagement with a cam 58 secured to the plate 22.

The forward end of lever 63 carries a lifter pin 69 whichextends under an arm 70 also pivoted to the stud 62. The forward end of arm 78 is adjustably connected by means of link H to a floating carrier l2, the rear end of the latter being pivotally connected as at 73 to the lower arm I4 of the lever 75 also pivoted about the stud 62. The carrier link supports the brace '56 which may be secured thereto as shown in Figs. 6 and '7 and is given a contour as set forth in Fig. l to clear certain parts of the loom not shownin the drawings. The lower end of the brace is provided with a pushing and lifting finger 'I'I adapted for engagement with a bracket i3 secured to the back of the tube frame at a point intermediate the ends of the latter. A rod passesthrough the rear end of arm I5 and through a lug 8| on the lever 63, projecting below said lug and through a compression spring 82 and lock and check nuts 83.

In operation, the pullover shaft presents the tube frames one at a time to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the arms 4| will move the clutches inwardly, so that the lugs 35 Will unlatch the tube frame from the chain. The tube frame is then lowered and in order to facilitate the entry of the yarn tubes3I between the binder warps B the frame is tilted so that the tubes assume a nearly horizontal position. This is accomplished by a swinging of the clutch around the pivot 40 by means of link 48. After the tuft yarns Y and the tubes have been projected through and below the bindersto take the position shown in Fig. 8 in dot and dash lines, the tube frame will be rocked toward a vertical position with the spool over the frame, passing through the dotted and also the dashed lined positions shown in Fig. 8. At this time guide plates already referred to, which lie between the fingers 9| of a nose board 92, are in a rear position between the yarn tubes and exert a frictional resistance on the yarn tubes tending to bow the tube frame rearwardly.

The cam 53 is timed so that the lever 53 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 while the tube frame is being moved angularly, or during the so-called wiping-in operation. This causes a forward yielding movement of arm 10 by a force transmitted through "arm 15 and the spring 82, the effect of which is to move the carrier link 12 forwardly, or to the right, as viewed in Fig. l. The cam 68 is shaped to cause the finger TI to follow the tube frame as the same moves forwardly and upwardly during the wiping-in operation. It is this forward movement of the finger T! with the moving tube frame which forms an important part of my present invention, since it is effective to brace the tube frame against rearward bending due to the friction of the plates 90.

It will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the horizontal force exerted by the finger II against the bracket 78 when the tube frame is inclined would have a tendency to unseat the ends of the tube frames from the clutches. The lug 36, however, overhangs the part 38 of the tube frame ear and the ends of the tube frame are therefore prevented from rising. It should be noted that the combined resistance of the spring 46 together with the weight of the parts between the projection 36 and the center around which the clutch operating parts move is sufficient to hold the clutch down against the action of the lifter finger ll, the latter being effective only to prevent bending of the tube frame.

As the tube frame continues to roll near the end of the wiping-in operation, it assumes the position shown in Fig. 5, after which the arms 4! are raised to pull oif yarn for the next row of tufts, and at this time the lug 69 engages the under side of the arm 7G to raise the link I! and thereby elevate the lifter finger I! and prevent sagging of the tube frame for a purpose accomplished heretofore as in patent to Robertson No. 1,603,411. After the tube frame has been temporarily brought to rest during its upward movement the knives not shown cut the tufts formed by the tube frame yarns, after which the tube frame is returned to the chain by the raising of arms iI through the action of lever 45 and cam 41. The cam 68 is conveniently made with a separate part II!) adjustable radially and angularly with respect to the main part of the cam 68 to afford means to start motion of the finger Ti early or late, according tothe timing of the tube frame operating devices.

I find in practice that it is desirable to provide a more accurate and delicate adjustment for the movements of the brace finger during the wipingin operation than can conveniently be obtained from the relatively large cam 08. As shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and '7, a small stand I00 is secured to the arch by a bolt IOI passing through a vertical slot I02. The lower end of the stand has a horizontal slot I03 in which is adjustably mounted a support I05. The latter is adjustably positioned for engagement with the under side of the carrier link I2, which is provided with a relatively high face I06 and a lower face I01, between which is a small cam surface I08. Before the finger I'll begins to follow the tube frame forwardly in the wiping-in operation, the roll I05 will ordinarily be near face I06, as shown in Fig. 2 and during the forward movement of carrier link I2 already described the small camv I08 will ride over the support I05 and effect a slight lifting of the finger IT, as indicated in Fig. 6. The vertical position of the stud I04 as well as the horizontal location of the support I05 can be varied to give the requisite'nicety of adjustment to cause the finger TI to remain in bracing contact with the tube frame or the bracket 18 during the wiping-in operation. From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for preventing the forward thrust of the bracing finger T! from unseating the tube frame from'the clutches, this result being accomplished to set forth specifically herein by the engagement of a part carried by the clutch with a part carried by or moving with the tube frame. Although I have shown the projection 36 for accomplishing this result because it is convenient to employ this part also for the purpose of unlatching the hook 32, yet I do not wish to be limited to this particular way of preventing the tube frame from becoming unseated in its clutch. It will also be seen that the small support I05 cooperating with the cam I08 effects a slight upward movement on the part of the bracing finger desirable to enable it to follow and remain in contact with the tube frame as the same is raised during the wiping-in operation.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In an Axminster loom, a series of guide plates substantially parallel to the binder threads, said series extending'across the loom, a tube frame having tuft yarns and tubes to bev projected between the binders and guide plates, clutch mechanism to support the tube frame, means to produce angular movements in the clutch to give the tube frame a wiping-in operation during which the clutch assumes an inclined position, a brace to engage and prevent rearward bending of the tube frame during the wiping-1n operation, said brace acting in a direction tending to move the tube frame out of the clutch, and interconnecting means between the clutch and the tube frame to prevent the latter from being moved by the brace out of operative relation with respect to the clutch.

2. In an Axminster loom, a tube frame, means to give the tube frame a wiping-in operation during which the tube frame passes from an inclined to a substantially erect position, a pair of levers movable about a common axis, a link for each lever, means to pivotally connect the links independently of the levers, a brace carried by one of the links to engage and prevent rearward bending of the tube frame while the lay is in an inclined position relatively to a horizontal plane, a fixed guide and a cam fixed on one of the links to cooperate with the guide, movement of one of the levers moving the cam over the guide to elevate both links and the brace and at the same time move the brace forwardly, the lever capable of additional movement to elevate the tube frame independently of cooperation between the cam and the fixed guide.

3. In an Axminster loom, a series of guide plates extending across the loom, a tube frame with yarn tubes, a chain engaging ear on the tube frame, a clutch to engage the ear and give the same a disengaging movement preparatory to motion toward the cloth, means to give the clutch angular movements to give the tube frame its wiping-in operation and cause the yarn tubes to pass between the plates, the clutch and tube frame passing through an inclined position during the wiping-in operation, and the plates tending to bend the tube frame rearwardly, a brace to engage and prevent rearward bending of the tube frame during the wiping-in operation and exerting a force on the tube frame tending to move the ear away from the clutch when the latter is inclined, and interconnecting means between the clutch and the ear effective to resist said tendency of the ear to move away from the clutch and maintain the ear in operative relation with respect to the clutch.

EDWARD J. DACEY. 

